Clutch control



Nov. 17, 1936. v s. F. HUNT CLUTCH CONTROL I Filed Sept. 22, 1952 INVENTOR. jcolf '5 Hum I ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 17,

UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE ammo . cw'rcn cosmos I Scott F.-Hunt, South Bend, ma, amignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind a corporation of Delaware Application September :2, 1m, Serial No. seam s (c1. ice-.01) I This invention relates to control-mechanism for automotive vehicles and more Particularly to the automatic control oi various parts such as the clutch, the operation of which may be controlled automatically from the operation of the throttle valve. Y

In automotive vehicles, when the throttle is open, it is desirable that the clutch be engaged, so that the clutch is ordinarily disengaged only at such times as the throttle isclosed. Disen gagement of the clutch at every closing of the throttle, however, is not desirable since the motor is often used as a brake as in descending long grades with closed throttle.

It is, accordingly. an object of this invention to provide mechanism closely associated with'a' carburetor throttle valve for operating the control mechanism of an automatic clutch, together with means for restricting such operation readily and at will.

Another object is the provision oi a simpli fled compact, unitary mechanism for controlling a power actuated clutch by the throttle valve,

together with mechanism adapted to restrict the operation of the controlling mechanism at will.

Theabove and other novel features ofthe in vention will appear more fully hereinafter from theiollowing detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is expressly understood, however, that-the drawing is employed for. purposes of illustration only and is not designed as a definition of the 4 Figure3isasectiontaken throughFigu1e2on limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended-claims.

In the drawing, wherein. similar referenceparts throughoutthe the line 8-4, illustrating the shape of the valve member.

Referring to the drawing",

' ularly to Figure 1, there is shown diagrammati- 50 cally an internal. combustion engine "sum as 55 ating the same. As shown, the clutch is used in automotive vehicles, an intake manifold l2 and down draftcarburetor' I, together with the throttle valve mechanism ll and foot oracceierator pedal ll suitably connected for-operand more partic to be operated by a vacuum power cylinder 24 connected by a suction conduit "to a valve 20, which in the modification shown is mounted di-' rectly upon the carburetor.

Referring to the carburetor throttle valve and the clutch control valve 20, and their associated operating mechanism which are shown in detail in Figure 2, it will. be observed that the bent lever 30 is adapted to be actuated by the accelerator pedal ll through the bell crank 88 and connecting link 36. The throttle! valve comprising a disc 34 securely fixed to a shaft 32 is adapted to be actuated by the crank member 40 which is securely fixed to the shaft 32, and the bent lever 80, which is freely pivoted thereom.

transfer of motion from the bent lever to the crank 40 being accomplished through the intermediary of the adjusting screw l2 and arm 33 vof the lever. To adjustably fix ,the closed posiing such time as thethrottle valve is opened the v spring 35 urges the crank adjustment screw 42 into engagement withthe lever arm 33, thereby causing the throttle to follow movement of the lever It, throughout its. openins'and closing range. V

The clutch control valve 20 may be located-as shown in Figure 2 so as to be conveniently o'p-' erated by the extremity of the lever arm 33 and to directly connect to the manifold. The cylindrical valve casing 48 is provided with a piston-- type of valve. member ll, having a shank 48 leading outside the casing into engagement with the arm 33. The spring 5| normally urges the valve member II to the fight to the position; 7,

shown, where conduit 28 isconnected to atmosphere through the grooveor notch 52 in the valve member and the exhaust aperture 54 located in the end of the cylinder. To connect the conduit '28 with the manifold vacuum. the annular groove II in the valve member is adapted, upon movement to the left, to connect the port 56 which leads preferably directly into the carburetor with the conduit 28 thereby'ailording a direct connection between the intake manifold and suction motor 24. As shown in Figure 3, the shank 48 "maybe square so as to. prevent-rotation of the notch 52 from shifting from its proper position with respect to the inlet of conduit 26 and prevent the connection of the port 56 to atmosphere.

Since it is preferable that some means be provided for the purpose of preventing, at will, the normal operation of the valve 20 and clutch control, as would be desirable where free wheeling" is objectionable, as in descending long gradu in gear, there is provided a manually adjustable stop comprising a lever 62 suitably pivoted as at 64 to the carburetor casing adjacent the lever II. The lever at one end carries an adjustable 'abutmenttil adapted to engage the lever arm ll as a stop while the other end is secured to the end of a flexible control cable 66 passing through the conduit 68 to a manual control knob 10 located on the dash, as shown in Figure 1. Toprovide a support for the end of the conduit 68 and also for an adjustable abutment to prevent over-opmovement of the lever 30 will tend to close the throttle by reason of the spring 35 urging the crank 40 in a clockwise direction. The closing movement of the throttle is limited by the adjustment screw 44 striking the abutment ll which may be suitably adjusted to prevent complete closure of the throttle valve for any desired closed throttle adjustment. Movement of the lever 30 from closed throttle position in a clockwise direction thereupon tensions the spring II closing the throttle valve 34 and actuates the valve member 50 to the left' against the pressure of spring 5! and in turn connects the port 56 with the conduit 26 thereby connecting the carburetor intake to the suction motor 2. and actuating the clutch. This latter movement of the lever 30 and valve member III may be prevented by placing the stop screw 60' on the lever 62 in the position shown in Figure 2. This is accomplished through movement of the dash control button .10 to tension the cable 66 and draw the lever 62 into engagement with the adjustment screw stop 12. 1

There is thus provided a novel, compact and unitary mechanism adapted to control or operate the throttle valve and adapted to operate the control valve for a clutch control mechanism in sequence together with mechanism for preventing the operation of the clutch control valve at will.

Though only one embodiment and modification of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be embodied in various mechanical or even electrical forms. As such changes. in construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. 1 Y

I claim:

1. In a carburetor, the combination of a casing having a channel for combustible mixtures,

said casing and having one of" said ways leading into said channel, a shaft for said throttle valve leading outside said casing, a stop for limiting the closed movement of said throttle valve and shaft, means rotatably mounted on said shaft having a lost motion connection with said throttle valve in one direction of rotation, and a lost motion connection with said two way-valve in the other direction of rotation, and controllable means for arresting movement of said means when rotating in the other direction to prevent actuation of said two way valve.

2. In combination with an intake manifold, a throttle valve, a two way valve secured to said manifold and having a port communicating with said manifold, means for operatingsaid valves having a lost motion connection with said throttle valve when actuated in one direction and having a lost motion connection with said two way valve when operated in the other, and controllable means associated therewith for preventing lost motion in the connection with said throttle valve.

3. In combination with an intake manifold, a throttle valve, means for actuating said valve to an open position, means for causing said valve to follow said actuating means to closed position, said actuating means having lost motion movement with respect to said throttle valve, a second valve communicating with said manifold and operable by the lost motion movement of said actuating means with respect to said throttle valve and controllable means for limiting the movement of said actuating means beyond the closing of said throttle valve.

4. In an automotive vehicle vacuum clutch control system, a carburetor having an intake manifold, a throttle valve for said manifold, actuating means having a lost motion connection with said throttle valve," a vacuum cylinder control valvesecured to said carburetor having a port directly connected with said manifold,

said control valve having a lost motion connection with said actuating means, and adapted for actuation with saidthrottle valve in sequence, and means on'said carbureton for preventing operation of said control valve.

5. In a carburetor, a throttle valve, a shaft therefor, means on said shaft for limiting closing movement of said valve, a lever pivoted on said shaft and engaging a shoulder on said means so that movement of said lever may open said throttle, a manually controllable stop means for limiting at willthe movement of said lever beyond closed throttle position, and a second control mechanism located on said carburetor and adapted to be operated by-movement of said lever beyond closed throttle position.

8. In a carburetor, a throttle valve comprising a valve disc and operating shaft, an operatinglever'pivoted on said shaft, and means secured to said shaft 'and engaging said lever for opening said throttle valve upon opening movement of said'lever, means urging 'said throttle valve to closed position, independent means for con trolling movement of said lever beyond closed throttle position, ands. control mechanism op-- erative by movement of said lever beyond the .closed throttle position.

7. In a'carburetor, a throttle valve comprising .a valve disc-and shaft, a lever pivoted on said shaft .and adapted to carry said valve to open position, means urging said valve to closed position, a manually movable stop for said lever a. m e onrbnretor. n throttle m. n lever hevin: n loot motion connection with aid valve fol-opening said valve. stop means adapted to limit the loot motion movement of sold lever while the throttle ll olooed. menus to shift the 

